What is Animal Law?

We are working to grow animal law and improve legal protections for animals across the world. Learn more about what this burgeoning area of law is all about and how you, as an animal lawyer or student, can get involved.

For animal advocates, the study and practice of Animal Law presents the opportunity to utilise new and existing legal remedies to better protect animals from cruelty, neglect and exploitation.

What is animal law?

Voiceless has been a leader in animal law in Australia since 2004, hiring Australia’s first animal lawyer and engaging with high-profile international legal experts through the Voiceless Animal Law Lecture Series. For animal advocates, the study and practice of Animal Law presents the opportunity to utilise new and existing legal remedies to better protect animals from cruelty, neglect and exploitation.

Animal Law is the field of law that seeks to govern the interactions between human and nonhuman animals. It covers a diverse array of domestic and international legal issues, arising in statutory, judicial, executive, regulatory and theoretical contexts.

The growth of Animal Law

Over the past decade, Animal Law has become an established and distinct area of law. A growing number of reputable domestic and international educational institutions are teaching Animal Law, with 15 universities in Australia and 165 universities in North America have offered an animal law course.

Today, thousands of students across the globe are graduating from law schools having studied Animal Law, with class sizes growing every year.

"Eventually the wave of individuals passing through law schools will have their effect on legal institutions. As they become legislators, judges and community leaders, the issues of animal welfare will rise on the national agenda." 1

Professor David Favre

There has also been a proliferation of scholarly writing on Animal Law, the publishing of multiple Australian and international text books, academic conferences, and an ever-expanding list of individuals and organisations dedicated to the study and practice of Animal Law.

Why do we need animal lawyers?

As our understanding of animal behaviour and intelligence has increased, so too has the acceptance in the scientific community that animals are sentient creatures who should be able to live free from suffering and abuse. Unfortunately, we live in an era where more animals are suffering than ever before.

Both Australian statute and common law classify animals as ‘things’ or property. Humans, on the other hand, are classified as ‘legal persons’. This distinction is crucial, as legal personhood determines who counts for legal purposes.

The thinghood of animals permits them to be exploited by humans in numerous ways – whether in the course of providing our food, clothes, cosmetics or entertainment; furthering our scientific knowledge or curiosity, or preserving our religious or cultural norms. Animals suffer immensely as a result.

As it is the law that permits and, in many respects, actively perpetuates this suffering, so the law has the capacity to be a driving force for change. Animal lawyers play an important part in advocating for such change. This can be done through a variety of actions including, but not limited to, writing submissions on government policy, advocating for progressive legal reforms, or representing the interests’ of animals in legal proceedings or commercial and private matters.

"Progress is made by pushing forward the boundaries of legal protection. Women got the vote; the White Australia policy, like apartheid, was consigned to history; Aboriginal Australians gained land rights; homosexuals witnessed the end of criminalisation; disabled human beings assert their rights. And now a new frontier beckons – animal welfare, protection and rights." 2

Voiceless Patron and Former Justice of the High Court, Michael Kirby AC CMG

How is the law failing animals?

Australia’s animal protection legal framework is failing animals, particularly the 600 million animals currently confined in factory farms across the country.

Australia presently lacks any Federal Government leadership in the animal protection space. While states and territories have implemented anti-cruelty statutes that attempt to prohibit animal cruelty and neglect,3 animals used for food production are deliberately excluded from even these modest protections.

Instead, the treatment and use of these farmed animals is governed by a series of ‘industry guidelines’.4

Generally speaking, these industry guidelines are largely developed by animal use industries for animal use industries, and often with the assistance of industry funded or commissioned animal welfare science.

As a result, industry guidelines legalise a raft of otherwise cruel practices that would be illegal if they were inflicted upon domestic cats or dogs. This means that standard husbandry practices – such as intensive confinement (like the use of battery cages and sow stalls), mutilation without pain relief, and brutal slaughter methods – are all legalised forms of animal cruelty.

Get involved with the Voiceless Animal Law Education Program

There are plenty of ways to get involved with the Voiceless Animal Law Education Program.

You can volunteer, participate in our internship program, invite us to deliver an animal law presentation, and much more. Click here for further information.

Get involved in animal law

The law is clearly failing animals, but we have the capacity to change it. As the law is a reflection of societal values, it is the work of social justice movements to challenge existing norms and inspire change.

Right now there is a growing number of intelligent, passionate and compassionate animal advocates fighting for animal justice.

Whether or not you are a lawyer, you have the potential to create a better world for animals. You can do this by lobbying for government leadership in the animal protection space, for stronger legal protections for animals, for greater levels of enforcement, and for tougher criminal sanctions imposed on animal abusers.

Here are some of the ways in which you can use your legal skills to alleviate the suffering of animals.

Work for an animal protection group

Many of Australia’s major animal protection groups employ individuals with a legal background, whether it be to prosecute against animal cruelty, to advocate for policy and law reform, to educate the community on Animal Law related matters, or as in-house corporate counsel. Stay informed, and keep a look out for future opportunities!

Conferences, lectures or events

There is an ever-growing variety of events relevant to Animal Law. In addition to lectures, presentations, panel sessions and festivals, Animal Law conferences are an excellent way to learn more about the issues and to network with likeminded advocates. If there are no events in your local area, then organise one yourself!

Volunteering

Many animal protection groups accept legal volunteers or interns to conduct research, draft submissions, manage online discussion forums, assist with events, or provide support with in-house legal matters. If you are a law student or lawyer who is able to offer research capacity or pro bono legal services, contact animal protection groups. If you are an animal protection organisation offering volunteer legal positions, you can advertise on Voiceless Animal Law Talk.

Individual advocacy

There are many opportunities to advocate for greater legal protections for animals. These include writing a letter to your local, state or federal member of parliament; organising a petition; using social media; contacting a newspaper or radio station, or initiating an educational campaign at your university or workplace.

Online advocacy

Get active online or on social media by creating and sharing Animal Law or animal protection related content, or using online advocacy tools provided by animal protection groups, like online petitions, pledges and targeted emails to key decision makers.

Submissions

Before Parliament enacts reforms to existing animal law, public submissions will often be sought. This is an excellent opportunity for you to put forward a well-researched and articulated submission on an animal protection issue and influence law reform.

Write an article on Animal Law

If there is a particular animal protection or Animal Law issue that interests you, consider writing an article for your local newspaper, university magazine, local law society journal, or an academic journal.

Advocacy on campus

Study Animal Law or a related subject at university. If your university does not offer Animal Law, study by correspondence or petition your law faculty to introduce an elective. You can also join or establish an animal protection or Animal Law group on campus.

Teach Animal Law

If you are a legal academic or practitioner and have a passion for animal protection, consider teaching a course in Animal Law. Prominent Australian universities have taught or are currently teaching Animal Law, and this number will increase along with student interest in animal protection issues. Contact Voiceless to find out how you could go about establishing and running an Animal Law course.

Advocacy in your workplace

If you work at a law firm, you may be able to get involved in Animal Law through your firm’s pro bono program. Some firms also encourage internal interest groups, which may allow you to join or establish an Animal Law focus group with your work colleagues. You may also have the opportunity to fulfil CPD points by attending or running an Animal Law related workshop or presentation. Contact Voiceless to arrange for a talk at your workplace.

Start or join an Animal Law group

Animal Law groups are an ideal way of meeting fellow advocates and learning more about Animal Law. Groups are often associated with a local community center, university or state or territory law society. These groups will allow you to get directly involved in Animal Law related projects or events. Use our Animal Law Toolkit to find an Animal Law group near you, or consider establishing one yourself at your university, workplace or state or territory law society.